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Looking at the broad stroke (i.e., median income) can be useful, but if I were helping my child make this decision, I wouldn't focus on that. Depending on the

by EpicEng 12y ago

Looking at the broad stroke (i.e., median income) can be useful, but if I were helping my child make this decision, I wouldn't focus on that. Depending on the career path, income can be highly variable. I also think that these numbers are skewed by the fact that more and more jobs are requiring degrees which didn't before. I would also argue that degrees should not be required for many of these positions. I mean, a Bachelor's of Hospitality? Restaurant management? Come on, learn that on the job.

eastbayjake 12y ago
The other part I don't like about these conversations is that I still really believe that a good college education isn't about learning a job skill. It's the one time in your life that you can think full-time about life's big questions and devote yourself fully to intellectual curiosity. It's a shame to use that time to learn about restaurant management. But it's crazy that it costs $50k/year to read great books and discuss them with a small group. It's a crazy price if you're intellectually uncurious and just want to get a job. It's an especially crazy price if you just want to party and grow up a bit before working. Our society should have room for both vocational schools and big-picture-intellectualism schools. It's part of the reason I'm so excited about developer bootcamps, if only as a model of what adult vocational learning could look like -- shorter time commitment, much lower cost compared to university, and a faculty fully devoted to pedagogy and student outcomes. You should be able to attend a low-cost big-picture-intellectualism school for a while if you want, then learn vocational skills at another school when you're ready to work.
- dllthomas 12y ago
  "Our society should have room for both vocational schools and big-picture-intellectualism schools." Moreover, it should be reasonable for someone to attend both.

by EpicEng 12y ago

eastbayjake 12y ago

The other part I don't like about these conversations is that I still really believe that a good college education isn't about learning a job skill. It's the one time in your life that you can think full-time about life's big questions and devote yourself fully to intellectual curiosity. It's a shame to use that time to learn about restaurant management. But it's crazy that it costs $50k/year to read great books and discuss them with a small group. It's a crazy price if you're intellectually uncurious and just want to get a job. It's an especially crazy price if you just want to party and grow up a bit before working. Our society should have room for both vocational schools and big-picture-intellectualism schools. It's part of the reason I'm so excited about developer bootcamps, if only as a model of what adult vocational learning could look like -- shorter time commitment, much lower cost compared to university, and a faculty fully devoted to pedagogy and student outcomes. You should be able to attend a low-cost big-picture-intellectualism school for a while if you want, then learn vocational skills at another school when you're ready to work.

dllthomas 12y ago
"Our society should have room for both vocational schools and big-picture-intellectualism schools." Moreover, it should be reasonable for someone to attend both.